Wodonga ratepayers are being kept in the dark about crucial details on the proposed sale of land at Logic industrial hub for an unprecedented low price.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council chief executive Mark Dixon revealed the valuers used in this instance had actually arrived at an average price for the land a "little less" than $5 per square metre.
Mr Gobel cited examples of transaction where Logic land had been sold up to $40 per square metre with council recently advertising land for $30 per square metre.
Key details about the historic low price and crucial contract conditions were not included in the public notice about the intention to sell land to Birdwood Energy and Derwent Industries for "commercial in confidence" reasons, according to Mr Dixon.
"Under the council's protocols, last night's submission (by Mr Gobel) was an opportunity for the council to listen to any community concerns, post the public notification, not debate the issue," Mr Dixon said.
"We will now take the appropriate time to address those concerns and present a formal recommendation to a future council meeting.
"The council has, however, undertaken an independent professional valuation of the land from a highly reputable firm.
"The council has used several licensed valuation firms over the years, all are recognised industry experts that it allocates work to based on their availability.
"The council also needs to respect the commercial-in-confidence discussions it has with any potential land purchaser, which is why details such as the valuation reports, heads of agreement, specific contract conditions are not part of a public notice."
Mr Dixon confirmed the 90 hectares of land's "unserviced" nature had been a factor in council deliberations to date.
"The council needs to also carefully consider the broader impacts, on our community, from all such land sales like the creation of new jobs, speed to development, business and community confidence, support to new industries coming to our region and the opportunity to commence gaining additional commercial rate revenue from land that has now been vacant for many years," he said.
